Preparing for the APICS CPIM Certification Exam: Some Hints and Tips
The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) certification is one of the most valued after certification for supply chain professionals. With over 45000 members and more than 125000 credential holders, APICS is one of the major authorities in the area of supply chain management.
The organization asserts that the Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) designation will not only improve career opportunities but also boost your earning potential, assist you in gaining a better knowledge of customer requirements, and increase your value to your organization.
To get your CPIM credential, you will have to pass five multiple-choice exams that include the problems of Basics of Supply Chain Management, Master Planning of Resources, Complete Scheduling and Planning, Execution and Control of Operations, and Strategic Management of Resources.
To pass an APICS CPIM exam, fortunately, you will have to get a scaled score of 300 on each test. Each question is weighted based on a difficulty level to assure the comparability of various exams. Official Statistics of the pass rate results, however, show that it is no simple undertaking to pass all the CPIM exams.
The Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) credential is something to sincerely think when on a career path to production and record management, supply management, operations, procurement, supply chain management, or purchasing.
The knowledge gained while providing for the CPIM exam will be done every day by a professional in all of these fields.
A CPIM credential will give a better position for progress to higher areas, as well as the potential for a higher salary, in both short-term and long-term situations.
The following five examinations must be given to get the CPIM designation:
1. Basics of supply chain management
2. Master planning of resources
3. Detailed scheduling and planning
4. Execution and control of operations
5. Strategic management of resources
All applicants must take and pass the basics of supply chain management examination before attempting the other tests. This is because knowledge of the material included in this examination is assumed in the different studies.
The remaining four exams cover related topics, but they do so in considerably greater depth.
1. The basics of supply chain management examination include manufacturing, distribution, service, and retail industries:
- The concepts of various supply chain factors.
- Manage demand, including markets and customer expectations.
- Plan products, processes, and information systems.
- Recognize common supply issues, such as inventory, cost, function, and metrics.
2. The master planning of resources examination assesses a candidate’s knowledge of long-term planning for supply and demand:
- Plan a distribution network; include how to refill when needed.
- Recognize the need for goods and services that support the marketplace.
- Execute a schedule for a production plan that takes together the plans and goals for a business.
3. The detailed scheduling and planning examination needs an understanding of the different tools and techniques that are available for the planning of inventory, as well as the impact that each method has on a business:
- Translate plans and schedules into a product or service that is visible to the customer.
- Maintain inventory, planning material and capacity requirements, and procurement and supplier planning.
- Make sure that the master plan is performed and controlled correctly.
- Recognize the value of supply chain management and how it compares to scheduling, planning, and sourcing.
- Allot resources to manage an even supply distribution of products and services.
4. The performance and control of operations examination test a candidate’s knowledge of translating plans into activities that can be executed by a business:
- Determine how to allocate computing resources best.
- Compare predicted output to actual output and take proper corrective action as required.
- Explain performance data to a group.
- Communicate ideas to a group and teach others on how to implement those ideas.
- Understand how to execute quality leads and continuous improvement plans.
- Evaluate and participate in design decisions.
5. The strategic management and resources examination expects candidates to have a grasp of how market fundamentals drive the resources and processes of a business:
- Learn concepts that need knowledge of a combination of ideas in production and inventory management.
- Understand the relationship between processes, technologies, operations, and supply chain functions.
- Know how business strategies are developed and how operations strategies are performed in various business environments.
APICS CPIM Certification Exam Preparation Tips
The following APICS CPIM tips will help you in developing a study plan, improving your test score, and helping you work toward earning your APICS designation.
1. Prepare for the CPIM Exam
Create a study plan. Candidates take, on average, about 100 hours to study for each exam. You may require more or less time, depending on your level of experience, amount of class time, study choices, and other factors. The quantity of study time also depends on which APICS certification exams you are taking. One way to discover how many study hours you will require per week is to study one chapter in the CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD modules; use this to decide how much time you will need to review the material adequately.
Another excellent preparation resource is to connect with other professionals within the Supply Chain Channel. The certification community is here to support your attempts to increase your knowledge and improve your skills.
2. Plan Your APICS Exam Date
Do not wait the last minute continuously to schedule your CPIM exam. You will require to take the exam while the information is still fresh in your mind. Ascertain when and where you would like to get your exam and build your study plan by working backward from your desired exam date.
3. Practice CPIM Questions
When you start studying textbooks, please make sure to use highlighter whenever you think necessary to compile the topic because, at the time of the revision, you will not get full time to review everything. These CPIM practice questions are fundamental, and it will help you to grasp the required knowledge for CPIM Exams.
4. Take the CPIM Exam
Stay calm and centered during the exam. Use the whole time allowed for completing the exam. If you see that the first few questions are providing you trouble, flag them for review and move on until you find one you can answer with confidence. This will build your faith and enable you to get the “feel” of the exam. Pay particular attention to the contents of the exam questions. Read carefully! If possible, allow enough time to go through your answers a second time at the end of the exam.
CPIM Exam Day
The CPIM test-taking tips and strategies so that you will be ready to pass all the exams on your first attempt.
1. Make sure that you are well equipped before scheduling your test appointment. APICS states that, on average, people consume between 175 and 225 hours preparing for the exams.
2. Do not be late for your test center appointment. The Pearson VUE test center practices state that you should be at your registered test center 30 minutes before the test appointment. If you enter more than 15 minutes late for an exam, you will be denied admission, and you forfeit your exam registration fee. So make sure you know how to go to the test center and that you plan for enough time to arrive at your destination.
3. Stay calm and do not panic! You will have three hours to make each of the exams. This should give you lots of time to read every question carefully, answer it, and review your answers after finishing the test.
4. A few of the CPIM questions are pretty honest and require only common sense to figure out the correct answer. So do not stress out and try to find a special catch if the correct answer is obvious.
5. If you don’t know the right answer, making use of the flagging point and move on to the next question rather than spending your time. You can always go back after going over all the other questions.
6. Be informed that there are no penalties for wrong answers. If you do not know the answer, be sure to make an instructed guess rather than not answering a question.
7. When choosing an answer, try to remove as many answers as possible. If you can cancel answer A, choose B. If you can delete A and B, choose C, etc.
This APICS CPIM certification provides basic definitions and concepts for planning and managing the flow of materials into, though, and out of an organization. It describes fundamental relationships among the activities that happen in the supply chain from suppliers to customers.
